by Julie Cannon
Stroke by stroke Matt matched Kelly’s, and Matt touched the bright-yellow buoy an instant after Kelly did.
“Winner!” Kelly triumphantly raised her arms in the air. She was breathing heavily, trying to catch her breath.
Matt grabbed the ring around the base and pulled Kelly to her just as her head dipped under the water. It was deep, and Kelly needed her arms to tread water to stay afloat. Their torsos came together, and Kelly wrapped her arms around Matt’s neck.
“I wasn’t going to drown,” Kelly said, her mouth inches from Matt’s. “Or were you just using that as an excuse to put your arms around me?”
Matt knew Kelly wasn’t in any danger. “No,” she answered, not able to take her eyes off Kelly’s lips. “I used it as an excuse to feel you next to me.”
Kelly shifted just a little, her thigh sliding between Matt’s. “I like the way you think.”
The gentle rise and fall of the water was sensuous and matched the rhythm of bodies sliding against each other. Matt had an overwhelming need to kiss Kelly like she’d never been kissed before.
“Am I going to have to ask you to kiss me every time?” Kelly chuckled.
Matt didn’t need any other encouragement, and she lowered her head. Kelly’s lips tasted like ocean and sunshine and held the promise of much more. Kelly pulled her closer as their kiss deepened. Still holding on to the buoy, Matt slid her hand down Kelly’s back and cupped her ass. Kelly moaned against her lips, spread her legs apart, and practically climbed up Matt’s thigh.
Matt desperately wanted to have both hands on Kelly, but if she let go, they would surely sink. Worse yet, they’d have to separate to stay afloat. They bobbed in the water, and Kelly wasn’t shy about how she felt in Matt’s embrace.
Kelly pulled her head back, her breathing ragged. “We can’t do this here,” she said, glancing around. She loosened her hold, putting some much-needed space between them.
Matt had completely forgotten about anything other than the taste of Kelly’s mouth, her soft breasts against hers, the throbbing need between her legs. She struggled to catch her breath and her senses.
“I suppose not.” The last thing Matt needed was to have Becca and Sandra bail her out of jail for lewd conduct.
“We can take this back to my room.”
Matt’s breath caught at the clear intention in Kelly’s words. If she had any doubt, the look of blatant desire in her eyes erased it. Matt’s heart raced, her mind keeping a close second. It had been years since she’d made love to someone that wasn’t Andrea. Could she do so without thinking of her? Would she call out Andrea’s name when she came? See her face when she closed her eyes? The first time she’d tried had been a disaster, and she’d never tried again. Never wanted to risk it. Until now.
“Matt?”
Kelly was waiting for an answer.
“Race you,” she said before swimming toward the shore.
Chapter Seventeen
Matt and Kelly hastily gathered their things and tossed their towels into the bin next to the pool. Charise was on duty again this afternoon, and she winked at Matt as she hurried by. They didn’t hold hands or exchange any words as they followed the sidewalk through the resort to Kelly’s room. They stood next to each other in the elevator, and when the bell rang announcing Kelly’s floor, Matt silently followed her down the hall.
Kelly’s hand was steady as she slid the card key into the lock. Good, Matt thought. At least someone was calm about what was going to happen. She was a nervous wreck. Kelly opened the door and crossed the threshold. Matt hesitated slightly, then stepped inside.
Kelly’s suite was similar to hers, but Matt saw only one bedroom. Oh my God, the bedroom. Her nerves kicked into overdrive. Was she really going to do this? Was she going to be able to do this? She’d read a lot about what sex was like after the death of a partner, and it was more than a little frightening.
“Matt?”
“What? Sorry. Did you say something?” Matt asked, embarrassed.
“I said I was going to take a shower and get this salt and sunscreen off. I’ll just be a minute.”
“O…okay,” Matt stammered like this was her first time. It had been so long it felt like it was. Kelly kissed her, bringing Matt’s focus back to the reason they were here. “Make yourself at home. I’ll be right back.”
Kelly kicked off her flip-flops, shrugged out of her coverup, and dropped it onto a chair. As she walked toward the bedroom, she untied her top and hung it over the doorknob. From where she was standing, Matt watched Kelly stop, step out of her bikini bottoms, and toss them aside. Matt’s jaw dropped at the boldness of her action. Who was she kidding? They were about to get naked and have sex. There was nothing shy about that.
A moment later she heard the shower running, and images of Kelly naked, water coursing down her body flashed in Matt’s brain. She imagined her hands filling with soap and gliding over her breasts, hips, and long legs. She pictured her head back as she rinsed shampoo from her hair.
Before she could think about what she was doing, Matt followed Kelly, then slid open the shower door. Kelly turned around, not at all surprised.
“Need any help?” The shower masked any nervousness in Matt’s voice.
“Actually, I do.” Kelly pulled Matt under the water and kissed her.
Matt’s senses went from overdrive into hyperdrive. She slid her hands over warm skin, glided over curves and valleys, and grazed over the peak of Kelly’s breasts. Kelly sucked in a quick breath and pulled Matt closer.
Kelly pressed Matt’s back against the cool tile and made quick work of getting her out of her clothes. She dropped her head and flicked her tongue over Matt’s nipple. It was Matt’s turn to gasp with pleasure.
“You like that?” Kelly asked needlessly.
“Yes,” Matt managed to say, her train of thought centered on what Kelly’s mouth was doing. God, it had been so long, and it felt so good. Matt masturbated several times a month, but this was something she couldn’t do. Her knees grew weak. Jeez, she thought. If Kelly kept this up, she’d come before she knew what hit her. That thought deserted her as Kelly’s hand slid between her legs. Her knees almost buckled.
Kelly switched her mouth to Matt’s other breast at the same time her fingers found her clit. She grasped Kelly’s hair and pulled her even closer. Matt’s orgasm started to rise from low in her belly. It would take only a second or third pass over her clit, and she’d come. She wanted to, needed to, but before she had a chance to think how embarrassing it would be to get off that fast, her orgasm shot through her.
Blinding light cascaded around her as wave after wave of pleasure filled every limb and pleasure point. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, could only feel. And it was exquisite.
“I love it when a woman is so turned on she comes almost immediately,” Kelly whispered in Matt’s ear. She’d been hoping Matt would follow her into the shower and was surprised she actually had. When she’d suggested they come to her room, Matt had a scared look in her eyes, and Kelly wasn’t sure Matt would agree.
As they’d walked to her suite, Kelly’s mind had been on all the things she wanted to do to Matt. Matt had said she was a widow, and Kelly wondered what that was like, making love to someone else. In her case, she was emotionally free and clear of Suzanne, but what did Matt think about when she touched another woman? She doubted that kind of love ever died, but did Matt have it safely in a place where she could move on? Matt had told her it had been a while since her wife died. What was ‘a while’? One year? Two? Ten? She hadn’t been sure what would happen until she heard the shower door open. Matt shuddered against her.
“You okay?” she asked, her fingers still on Matt.
“Yeah. Sorry about that,” Matt said, hiding her face in Kelly’s shoulder.
“I’m not.”
“It’s been a long time, and it kind of snuck up on me.”
“How long is long?”
“Long enough for me to be nervous,” M
att admitted.
“Of me?”
“No. Of me.”
Kelly pulled back, her face inches away from Matt, who wouldn’t look at her for the longest time. Finally, she did.
“We don’t have to do this.”
“A little late for that now, don’t you think?” Matt’s shy smile was cute.
“That was just the beginning.” Kelly hesitated. “That is, if you want it to be.” She certainly did. Her clit was so hard, the pounding was echoing in her brain.
Matt studied her for so long that nervousness crept up Kelly’s spine. She suddenly felt like she had swept Matt into this, and that was the last thing she wanted. She liked her, really liked her. She suspected she had some baggage, but at their age, who didn’t? It was just a matter of what you did with it. She wasn’t sure Matt had checked hers at the door.
Matt spun Kelly around and pressed against her.
“I definitely want it.”
Matt’s kisses were demanding, her hands everywhere. Kelly whimpered with desire when Matt’s tongue circled her nipple, then sucked on it. Kelly had a direct hot wire from her nipple to her clit, and Matt’s mouth was electric.
“I want your fingers in me.” Kelly wasn’t much of a talker when it came to sex, but she was wound so tight with Matt she didn’t want to waste a second. She needed to come fast and hard. She’d do slow and leisurely the next time. She rose on her toes and gasped as Matt’s fingers curled into her.
“Jesus.” Kelly said, her level of arousal surprising. She usually couldn’t come standing up, but if Matt kept doing what she was doing, she would.
“Yes, just like that.” She thanked God Matt was a good listener, and her climax overtook her an instant later. Matt shuddered again, and Kelly kissed her, their breath mingling together.
They dried off, and Kelly wasn’t sure if this was the end of their time together or just the beginning. She certainly knew what she wanted. She wanted Matt on the bed, covers on the floor, the sheets damp and mussed from their lovemaking. Matt was passionate, and if their shower sex was any indication, she had the power to make Kelly forget about absolutely everything except the way she made her feel. Her body hummed with residual orgasm and tingled with desire for more. She didn’t want to scare Matt by asking her to stay, but she didn’t want her to leave either. She glanced at the clock.
“I suppose I should go,” Matt said, catching her movement.
“No,” Kelly said quickly. “I mean, if you want to sure, but…”
“But what?”
Kelly took a deep breath, suddenly nervous. She was never nervous with women, and certainly not when it involved having them naked. But she didn’t want to blow it with Matt.
“But I’d like it if you didn’t.” There, she’d said it. She watched Matt’s face for any sign of reluctance or hesitation.
“You were looking at the clock. That’s the biggest hint you want someone to leave,” Matt said plainly.
“Not in this case. I was looking at it to see how much time we had left before your friends would be looking for you.”
Kelly’s pulse sped up as Matt dropped her towel and stepped closer. Her breathing quickened when she reached out and caressed the top of her breasts with the back of her fingers. Her head spun when Matt’s hot, wanting eyes followed the trail of her towel as she pulled it loose and it slid to the floor.
“Hours,” Matt said as she lowered her head and kissed her.
Chapter Eighteen
Sensations flooded Matt as Kelly molded her body into hers. Soft, hot skin, responding to her touch, Kelly pulling her to her bed.
Matt reveled in the sensations of Kelly under her. Their kisses were hot, passionate, and deep. She dragged her mouth from Kelly’s enticing lips to explore the smooth column of her throat, the curve of her neck, the sleekness of her shoulders. Matt cupped a breast, making quick swipes with her thumb across a hard nipple. Kelly arched into her.
“God, that feels good,” Kelly said, shifting so their legs intwined.
Kelly’s hands roamed her back, hot on her skin. Her nails trailed down her spine, part pleasure and pain. The heat between them rose, and Kelly’s breathing grew quicker. Kelly took Matt’s hand and moved it between her legs.
“Touch me.” Kelly’s voice was hoarse yet a gentle command.
Matt’s hand slid over warm wetness, making her dizzy. It had been so long since she’d touched a woman. Too long since she felt the pulse of desire under her fingers, the power and ability to give pleasure.
Kelly’s center was soft, and when Matt parted the wet lips, a rush of Kelly’s desire flowed into her hand. She ran her fingers through the liquid and slid them slowly over Kelly’s clit several times. She memorized every scent, every whimper, every twitch of flesh around her fingers.
“God, yes.” Kelly moaned, and Matt fought to control her desire. She wanted to take her, hear her name screamed at that one moment of pure bliss.
“I need you inside me,” Kelly said, breathless.
Matt slid one finger, then two into her warm center. Kelly’s arms tightened around her, and she stopped breathing. Frightened, Matt started to pull away.
“No,” Kelly said. This time her voice was strong. “More.”
When Matt slid another finger into her, she was rewarded with another shudder of pleasure and a hoarse command to go deeper. She wanted to please Kelly like she had never been before.
“Yes…uh…just like that.”
Kelly squirmed against her. She felt every beat of Kelly’s heart in her fingers buried deep inside her. Matt sensed how close to orgasm Kelly was and backed off just enough to stay poised in the moment for as long as she could. She wanted to go slow and explore every inch of her. She wanted to remember this moment for as long as she lived. Her senses were magnified by the raw hunger of the woman in her arms. The way Kelly responded to her touch was the most exhilarating experience she’d ever had. Matt wanted her as hot and out of control as she was. She desperately craved to taste her. She needed to feel her hard clit pulsing with desire under her tongue. Erotic thoughts she believed she’d never have again flashed in her mind.
Matt slid down, their bodies slick with sweat from their desire. She trailed kisses over Kelly’s ribs, her stomach, and a scar on her left side, just above her tan line.
“Where did you get this?” Matt asked, wanting to kiss away any pain Kelly had experienced. It took a moment for Kelly to respond.
“You really want to talk about that now?”
Kelly’s face was flushed, her chest rising and falling, her nipples hard. Her hips were thrusting toward Matt’s mouth, seeking release.
Matt chuckled. She was actually having fun as well as going crazy with desire.
“Maybe later.” Matt bit the side of Kelly’s hip.
Kelly opened her legs wider, and Matt used the fingers of her other hand to spread her lips, flicking her thumb over Kelly’s clit. Matt snaked her tongue around her, grazing her clit, wanting to drive Kelly crazy. The time for teasing was later. Kelly grabbed Matt’s short hair and pulled her closer.
“Lick me,” she demanded. “I need your mouth on me.”
Kelly’s words were like gas on an exposed flame, driving Matt higher. Kelly gasped at the first sweep of Matt’s tongue on her. Her hips thrust up, and Matt withdrew her fingers and wrapped her arms around Kelly’s thighs, holding her still. God, she tasted good, Matt thought. She dipped her tongue into her.
“Faster.” Kelly lifted herself up on her elbows. Matt stared into Kelly’s eyes. She was watching her. Watching Matt pleasure her. God, that was hot.
Matt’s orgasm quickly rose again, and she ignored it. With her tongue she explored where her fingers had previously been, savoring every scent.
“Fuck, that feels good.” Kelly’s voice was almost reverent. “Faster,” Kelly demanded again. “Harder,” she pleaded, and Kelly’s legs tightened around her. Kelly whispered her name in gasping breaths as she quickened her pace, their eyes locked.
Finally, Kelly stiffened and, with one last cry, came hard. Matt watched her become more beautiful as orgasm overtook her, mesmerized by the changes in Kelly’s face. She had seen it earlier, the mask of concentration transforming into the glow of release. Matt knew she would never grow tired of seeing this woman come in her arms.
Matt watched in amazement as Kelly’s breathing slowed. She had never been so content. A strong, beautiful woman lay in her arms, and Matt wanted, no, needed, for her to come again. Slowly she moved her mouth, and Kelly twitched in response. It took very little to push her over the edge once more. Matt held her close as wave after wave of pleasure racked her body. She was exquisite. Her little moans and soft whispers only heightened Matt’s arousal.
Matt was insatiable and took Kelly over and over. It was when exhaustion threatened to overwhelm her that Kelly finally grabbed Matt’s wrist and softly whispered for her to stop. Matt made a silent promise to herself. Whatever happened, she would never forget this day.
“You’re damn good at this,” Kelly said, obviously trying to catch her breath. “Come up here.”
Matt didn’t want to leave where she was, but she’d give Kelly anything she asked for.
She wanted to take the long road back up Kelly’s body, exploring all the places she might have missed on her way down, but Kelly would have nothing to do with that. She pulled Matt up and into a passionate kiss, and she was instantly sailing on another wave of desire. Kelly smiled against her lips when she started to rub against her thigh.
“Not so fast this time,” Kelly demanded, pushing her back onto the rumpled sheets.
This time Kelly took control, and Matt closed her eyes to simply feel.
“Matt. Look at me.” Kelly said.
It took a moment for the voice to seep into her brain. She had to blink a few times to clear her head. Kelly’s eyes bored into hers as if checking to be sure that Matt knew it was Kelly who was kissing her, touching her.
Matt raised her hand, and it shook as she touched Kelly’s cheek. It was Kelly, not the ghost of a past life. It was this woman who had made her breath stop, her body break through into the daylight again after so many years in the dark.
